Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup

Born Apr. 16, 1825, in Sorø; died Dec. 24, 1913, near Kongsdal. Danish state and political figure.

A prominent landowner, Estrup was a member of the Folketing, the lower chamber of the Rigsdag, in 1854 and 1855. In 1864 he entered the Landsting, the upper chamber, where he served, with one hiatus, for a long period. He was minister of the interior from 1865 to 1869 and held the posts of prime minister and minister of finance from 1875 to 1894.

Estrup, who was the leader of the rightist, conservative Højre Party, was nicknamed the Danish Bismarck. While he was prime minister, bitter clashes took place between his party and the opposition party, Venstre. His government’s budgets were repeatedly rejected by Venstre. In response, Estrup resorted to provisional financial laws that did not require formal confirmation by the Rigsdag; the first law was introduced in 1877. This policy resulted in increases in taxes and, during the 1880’s and 1890’s, led to a worsening of the political situation and to unrest among the peasants. A compromise between the moderate wing of his party and the right wing of Venstre resulted in Estrup’s resignation.